Texas attorney general Ken Paxton announced on Sept. 1, 2026 that his office has opened an investigation into TriWest Healthcare Alliance over allegations the company wrongfully denied TRICARE claims by incorrectly flagging beneficiaries as having “other health insurance.”
Paxton’s press release says the Office of the Attorney General has issued civil investigative demands to TriWest and plans to interview consumers and employees as part of a probe that will determine whether the conduct violated the Texas Deceptive Trade Practices Act (DTPA).
NBC News reported Paxton’s announcement and traced the inquiry to reporting about widespread problems after TRICARE’s West region contract moved to TriWest; NBC cited the case of Fort Worth veteran Guy Shoemaker, whose previously approved care was clawed back after an OHI error.
TriWest itself acknowledged the OHI errors in a May 19, 2026 letter to beneficiaries from President and CEO David J. McIntyre Jr., apologizing and saying the company had reduced its OHI denial rate to 1.3% while working on systems and customer-service fixes.
The attorney general’s release explicitly frames the investigation as stemming from reports and admissions that TriWest wrongfully denied claims, and Paxton is quoted saying he will use “the full force of the law” if the company broke Texas consumer-protection rules.
In NBC’s reporting, Shoemaker described prolonged harm from the coverage interruptions and told reporters he only received relief after the story aired; NBC also noted TriWest apologized to beneficiaries in May and said it was reviewing Paxton’s investigative demand in an emailed statement.
Why it matters: TRICARE contractors administer care for active-duty service members, retirees and their families, and a state probe that issues CIDs and interviews employees can yield documents and testimony that inform both consumer relief and potential enforcement under state law.
Paxton is a high-profile figure in Texas politics, and his action follows national reporting and a public apology from TriWest — all facts the attorney general’s office and NBC independently confirmed in the press release and news story cited below.
Readers who want more background on Paxton and related state developments can see recent local coverage of his campaign and legal scrutiny.
Ken Paxton faces scrutiny and Talarico edges Paxton in Texas poll show recent local reporting on the attorney general.
Sources
- Office of the Attorney General — press release announcing the Sept. 1, 2026 investigation, CIDs and planned interviews.
- NBC News — report linking the probe to reporting on TRICARE transition problems and the Shoemaker case.
- TriWest / TRICARE — May 19, 2026 letter from CEO David J. McIntyre Jr. apologizing and citing a reduced OHI denial rate of 1.3% while fixes proceed.
